Guardrail Post Base

ABSTRACT

The guardrail post base is designed to bolt to the plywood floor of a building under construction. The post base is provided with a tube adapted to receive conventional guardrail posts. All parts of the post base are fabricated from steel having a minimum yield stress of 36 KSI. The post base includes a plate for attaching a kick board thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to support apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a support bracket for safety barriers used at building construction sites.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally safety barriers, including fences and/or railings, are temporary structures employed at building construction sites. The barriers are erected around the perimeter of the building floors to provide safety for the workers and also to prevent tools and other construction paraphernalia from being accidentally pushed over the edges of the floor. Usually the barriers comprise upright rods that have their lower ends received in recesses drilled or otherwise provided in the building floor. Alternatively, the upright rods are received in clamps, which clamps are mounted along the edges of the floor. Heretofore, erecting these temporary barriers has required a relatively great deal of time and such barriers have afforded less than adequate protection for the working personnel and equipment. This scenario often resulted in loss revenue due to equipment damage and injuries. The construction industry would certainly welcome a reliable mounting device for safety barriers, which device is easy to install and remove. Thus, a guardrail post base solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The guardrail post base is designed to bolt to the plywood floor of a building under construction. The post base is provided with a tube adapted to receive conventional guardrail posts. All parts of the post base are fabricated from steel having a minimum yield stress of 36 KSI (kilo-pounds per square inch). The post base includes a plate for attaching a kick board thereto.

Accordingly, the invention presents a support base that is rugged and easy to install, thereby saving time and money. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a guardrail post base according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a guardrail post base according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a guardrail post base according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1, wherein the guardrail post base is generally indicated at 10. A pair of post bases 10 support a post and safety rail section 12 and kick board 14 (both shown in phantom lines) thereon. Post and safety rail section 12 and kick board 14 are conventional and are not per se part of the inventive concept. As discussed above, post bases 10 are attached on the perimeter of the floor (not shown) of a building under construction. Post and safety rail section 12 is mounted in the post base to provide fall protection for personnel. Kick board 14 prevents tools from being accidentally pushed from the edge of the floor.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, post base 10 comprises a ¼″×8″×8″ base plate 20. A plurality of fastener holes 22 are spaced along one edge 20 a of base plate 20. A single fastener hole 24 is centered on opposite edge 20 b. A square, hollow tube 26 1½″×1½″ having ¼″ thick walls is centered on the upper surface of base plate 20 and attached thereto. Tube 26 extends approximately 6″ vertically upward from base plate 20. A ¼″ reinforcing gusset bar 28, has a first end attached to face 26 a of tube 26. The attachment is approximately 3″ above the upper surface of plate 20. A second end of bar 28 is attached to plate 20 adjacent fastener opening 24 and is centered thereon approximately 1½″ from face 26 a. A kickboard support plate (1½″×1½″) 30 is attached on face 26 b of tube 26. Face 26 b is opposite face 26 a. Kick board support plate 30 is disposed approximately 3″ above the upper surface of plate 20 and extends perpendicularly from face 26 b. A fastener opening 32 is formed through the center of kick board support plate 30. All components (plate 20, tube 26, bar 28, and kickboard support plate 30) are fabricated from steel. All attachments are made by welding utilizing E70XX electrodes.

In use, the guard rail post bases are mounted on a sheathing having a minimum thickness of ¾″. Lag screws having a minimum size of five-sixteenths of an inch diameter and two inch length are utilized to secure the bases to the sheathing. The bases may be located either between the floor joists or centered above the floor joists (maximum joist spacing is 2′-0″). Employing the above criteria, calculations have shown that the guardrail post base will meet or exceed the loading requirements as set out in OSHA Section 1926.502(b)(3).

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A guardrail post base, comprising: a base plate having an upper planar surface; a hollow tube member attached to the upper planar surface of the base plate and extending vertically upward therefrom, the tube member having a first face and a second face; a gusset bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the first face of the hollow tube member and the second end being attached to the upper surface of the base plate; and a kick board support plate attached to the second face of the tube member and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the support plate having a fastener opening defined therein.
 2. The guardrail post base according to claim 1, wherein said hollow tube member extends a vertical distance of about six inches from said base plate.
 3. The guardrail post base according to claim 1, wherein said kick board support plate is positioned on the second face about three inches above the upper planar surface of said base plate.
 4. The guardrail post base according to claim 1, wherein said base plate has a first edge and a second edge, the base plate having a plurality of fastener holes defined therein in a spaced array adjacent the first edge.
 5. The guardrail post base according to claim 1, wherein said base plate has a first edge and a second edge, the base plate having a plurality of fastener holes defined therein in a spaced array adjacent the first edge and a single fastener hole defined in said base plate adjacent the second edge.
 6. The guardrail post base according to claim 1, wherein said base plate, said hollow tube, said support bar and said kick board plate are fabricated from steel having a minimum yield stress of 36 KSI.
 7. A guardrail post base, comprising: a base plate having an upper planar surface; a hollow tube member attached to the upper planar surface of the base plate and extending vertically upward therefrom, the tube member having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face; a gusset bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the first face of the hollow tube member and the second end being attached to the upper surface of the base plate; and a kick board support plate attached to the second face of the tube member and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the support plate having a fastener opening defined therein.
 8. The guardrail post base according to claim 7, wherein said hollow tube member extends a vertical distance of about six inches from the upper surface of said base plate.
 9. The guardrail post base according to claim 7, wherein said kick board support plate is positioned on the second face about three inches above the upper planar surface of said base plate.
 10. The guardrail post base according to claim 7, wherein said base plate has a first edge and a second edge, the base plate having a plurality of fastener holes defined therein in a spaced array adjacent the first edge.
 11. The guardrail post base according to claim 7, wherein said base plate has a first edge and a second edge, the base plate having a plurality of fastener holes defined therein in a spaced array adjacent the first edge and a single fastener hole defined through said base plate and positioned adjacent the second edge.
 12. The guardrail post base according to claim 7, wherein said base plate, said hollow tube, said support bar and said kick board plate are fabricated from steel having a minimum yield stress of 36 KSI.
 13. A guardrail post base, comprising: a base plate having an upper planar surface; a hollow tube member welded to the upper planar surface of the base plate and extending vertically upward therefrom, the tube member having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face and extending a vertical distance of about six inches from the upper planar surface of the base plate; a gusset bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being welded to the first face of the hollow tube member and the second end being welded to the upper surface of the base plate; and a kick board support plate welded to the second face of the tube member and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the kick board support plate being positioned on the second face about three inches above the upper planar surface of the base plate, the support plate having a fastener opening for a fastener disposed therein.
 14. The guardrail post base according to claim 13, wherein said base plate has a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, the base plate having a plurality of fastener holes defined therein in a spaced array adjacent the first edge.
 15. The guardrail post base according to claim 13, wherein said base plate has a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge and wherein plural fastener holes are disposed through said base plate in a spaced array adjacent said first edge and a single fastener hole is disposed through said base plate and positioned adjacent said second edge.
 16. The guardrail post base according to claim 13, wherein said base plate, said hollow tube, said support bar and said kick board plate are fabricated from steel having a minimum yield stress of 36 KSI. 